e progress of salvation, therebyendangers the salvation of the soul itself (Reed 58).“She [Vivien] is about the most base and repulsive person ever set forthin serious literature.” Vivien causes complete destruction, misery, and agonywherever she goes. Being the agent of death itself- “born from death was I/Among the dead and sown upon the wind” (ll. 44-45), she malevolentlydestroys hope and innocent love. Similarly, she is viewed as the cause ofMerlin’s destruction (Kincaid 183). “Love if love be perfect/ casts out fear./Sohate, if hate be perfect/ casts out fear” (ll. 140-41) Thus she is described as theelement of pure hatred and deceit and can be paralleled to Delilah and Eve(Hellstrom 117). Some critics, however, find it “inexcusable of Tennyson toportray a character with no dignity of any kind” (Marshall, 140). Many believe,though, that the effect of Vivien’s character is meant to show the character of“a thoroughly evil woman in contrast to that of a good one” (Enid, of theprevious idyll, being true, and Vivien being false) (Marshall 141). In fact, theidyll was originally titled as “Enid and Nimue,” translating as “The True and theFalse” (Marshall, 143). Vivien is quite true to herself though- she wishes to bemanipulative and enjoys the heartache of those she hurts. She is portrayed ascrude and malicious towards genial things and in her relationship with Merlin,fame as opposed to love is the basis of their relationship. To Vivien, love ispure sexual passion. “Yea! Love, though Love were of the grossest carves/ Aportion from the solid present” (Culler 232). This is the object of her desiresand she will go to any distance to obtain it. Before now, though, Vivien’s menwere mere pawns in her game- they were of no value, just gewgaws to occupyones time. However, Merlin has something that Vivien doesn’t- his...
